Every person wants to make their dream of homeowning a reality. If you apply for a home loan, you will get involved in certain steps you must have heard about, i.e., prequalification and preapproval. These two steps are crucial when accessing the funds during home-buying.

Not everyone is familiar with the terms mentioned above. People end up using the terms interchangeably. Know that there is a huge difference between the two. Prequalification is the initial step while sanctioning the loan and gives an idea of the amount you can borrow. In contrast, preapproval is the proceeding step, which offers commitments to provide a mortgage under certain conditions. Besides different information, applicants get the prime one about home loan interest rates. 

If you want homeownership, you must have in-depth knowledge about pre-qualifications and pre-approval before beginning a house-hunting adventure. The article aids you in navigating the right path of buying a home more confidently while dwelling on the difference and their benefits.

Understanding Pre-Qualifications For Home Loans

In this step, borrowers supply their financial details, like income, creditworthiness, debts, assets, etc., to the banks or financial firms. Lenders then review the entire documentation of the borrower, based on which they provide the estimated amount the borrower can sanction. The process is convenient and can be executed online at no cost. 

Furthermore, prequalification is a fast process that takes 1 to 3 days to provide a qualification letter. The step does not involve a deep analysis of the borrower’s capability to repay the loan or their credit scores. This means that the prequalification step only involves the discussion of the mortgage goals based on the documentation provided. 

Therefore, prequalified do not have the weightage like pre-approvals who faced in-depth investigation. Prequalification is like dipping your fingers in the home loan water to know the temperature. Similarly, the lender provides the details concerning the amount the borrower is eligible to buy a home.

Advantages of Pre-Qualifications

Here are some benefits of the prequalification step.

1. Borrowers can know the potential loan amount they can afford through the prequalification technique.
2. The process can be done through digital platforms on your device, like a phone. Therefore, it is a speedy process.
3. Prequalification aids in setting realistic goals rather than dreaming of an estimated amount. You can be trapped in finalizing the dream home you cannot afford.
4. The pre-qualification process provides you with a  prequalification letter, which shows the borrower’s seriousness to the seller for buying a home.

Understanding Preapproval Of Home Loan

According to Todd Kaderabek of Beverly-Hanks Realtors, prequalification is just a good indication, but preapproval determines a borrower’s creditworthiness and loan capability.  When the borrower takes steps to apply for home loan, he is asked to finalize the official mortgage application and submit crucial documents. The process involves deep research of the borrower’s background and creditworthiness by the lender for pre-approval. 

Pre-approval is like a semi-final competition for sanctioning the loan. In this step, borrowers get a clear idea of home loan interest rates that will be charged on the affordable loan amount. Some lenders charge fees for pre-approval applications in hundreds of dollars, while some lock in an interest rate.

Lastly, lenders provide an official letter for the conditional commitment of a particular loan amount, based on which the borrower selects the home to purchase below or the same as the mortgage amount. 

Advantages Of Pre-Approval

Here are some benefits of the preapproval step.

1. The borrower gets to know the actual budget they can afford to buy their home based on the amount they will get when they apply for a home loan, which completely relies on the documentation and financial background of the borrower.
2. While dealing with sellers, you can negotiate well, as they know you have a financing lineup based on your pre-approval letter.
3. Borrowers can confidently seek their dream house when they know their finances are in order. Thus, they only seek whatever is within their means.

Key Differences: Prequalifications Vs. Pre Approval

Let’s have a quick review of the difference between prequalification and preapproval.

Conclusion

Both pre-qualifications and pre-approvals serve as crucial tools for house purchasing toolkits. In prequalification, the borrower can quickly glimpse the loan range. In contrast, the preapproval step accurately informs you about the affordable budget and makes you focus on buying a home within the range. If you are confident about the limit, you do not have to change your decision later on finalizing your dream house based on your finances, which breaks the heart! 

Choose the suitable process according to your need, get informed about the home loan interest rate through the lender, and then finalize your decision to apply for a home loan. 

FAQs

Q1. Is a preapproval letter mandatory?

Ans. No. A pre-approval letter is not mandatory to buy a home. However, it assures sellers you can seal the deal on a certain range.

Q2. Do prequalification and preapproval certificates expire?

Ans. Yes, both prequalification and preapproval certificates have expiry periods. Expiration relies on the lender and may vary with different lenders. 

Q3. When I intend to apply for a home loan, is it necessary to go for pre-qualification and pre-approval? 

Ans. No, you can apply for a home loan to receive the funds once you are satisfied with the interest rate. Alternatively, depending on your requirements, you can opt for pre-qualification or pre-approval.